EDITORIAL: Soderquist deserves maximum possible sentence
The Times Editorial
September 06, 2016
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-soderquist-deserves-maximum-possible-sentence/article_23ea8b3f-78e2-5fe2-a6ed-fae472b52177.html
The details of a public corruption case don’t get much more repugnant than the case of disgraced former Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and his immediate family.
Soderquist and his wife were convicted of stealing from the town food pantry to finance gambling excursions, among other allegations.
And Soderquist also pleaded guilty in a separate case to helping cover up the embezzlement of funds from Lake Station City Court by his stepdaughter and former court clerk Miranda Brakley.
Soderquist had faced up to 30 months in federal prison at a future sentencing date in Hammond federal court.
But court documents show new information has added an additional year onto that sentencing range. Those circumstances should remind Region residents, elected officials and prosecutors of the need to hit perpetrators of public corruption with the full measure of the law.
The additional prison time Soderquist faces follows his admission in court documents that he recorded upwards of 425,000 city calls between October 2011 and August 2015 — and continued to do so even after being released on bond as his federal cases were pending.
City computer records show he listened to 14 calls involving potential government witnesses in his case. Those witnesses happened to be City Hall employees, according to federal court records.
Soderquist also listened to at least one call placed from the private chambers of the Lake Station City Court judge, court records allege.
This new evidence against Soderquist shows yet another egregious abuse of power — in this case a transgression committed when he already was facing other corruption charges.
Public officials prone to such behavior will never truly get it. Some have an entitlement complex so thick they actually believe they’re the victims when they’re caught.
Our justice system must continue sending a strong message that such behavior won’t be tolerated, and an extra year in prison may not be enough for Soderquist.
We also must ensure, as voters, that elected officials who serve as apologists for such behavior are shown the door.
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